15 supremely cinematic music videos that could (and should) be feature films

“Part of Me” – Katy Perry

Katy Perry is no stranger to a fun, conceptual music video, but for “Part of Me,” Perry wanted to make a statement: she was strong, and she didn’t need a man to be powerful.

The music video starts with Perry in her car, watching her boyfriend cheat on her through his office window. She confronts him, throws the locket he gave her down on his desk, then drives away. She’s inspired when she sees a sign to join the marines at a rest stop, so she changes into jeans and a sweatshirt, straps down her boobs (for some reason), and proceeds to cut off all her hair in the gas station bathroom.

Before long, she’s in army training and has to withstand wading through cold water, getting yelled at by her superiors, and fighting on the battleground. When she gets a letter from her cheating boyfriend, she burns it because she doesn’t need him anymore!

The final shot of the video has Perry looking straight into the camera with her face painted in camouflage, her blue eyes looking striking against the green and black. Though the song isn’t about her breakup with Russell Brand (it was written prior to their divorce), she released it at the perfect time to make sure everyone knew that she was strong and resilient.